Dabrowski and Routliffe stay unbeaten, advance to WTA Finals title match

Photo – Rob Prange/WTA

Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe continued their dominant charge at the WTA Finals Riyadh on Friday, overwhelming Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez 7-6(7), 6-1 to book their place in the final.

With the victory, Dabrowski becomes the first Canadian woman ever to reach the finals at the prestigious end-of-year championship.

The No. 2 seeds won 78 per cent of their first serve points, and converted four of 13 break point opportunities, reaching their sixth final of 2024 and improving to a flawless 4-0 for the week.

It wasn’t smooth sailing in the early stages from either team, as both pairs struggled to find rhythm on serve. The match opened with four breaks of serve in the first five games, before things settled. A love hold allowed the Canadian-Kiwi team to level the set at 3-all, helping them find their footing.

From there, both teams held serve six consecutive times, sending the opening set to a tiebreak. After falling behind early, the 2023 U.S. Open champions found their groove, winning five of the next six points to take a 6-5 lead. They converted their second set-point opportunity as Routliffe struck a reflex half-volley winner to claim the opener 7-6(7) in 65 minutes.

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The second set was far more one-sided, with Dabrowski and Routliffe asserting control through sharp net play and strong serving.

Following a love hold from Dabrowski, the team broke Melichar-Martinez, and Routliffe consolidated as the duo quickly forged ahead 3-0. The Canadian-Kiwi tandem maintained their pressure on return and, leading 4-1, broke the American Melichar Martinez’s serve again. Routliffe then closed out the contest on her serve, sealing the win with a forehand winner on their first match point for a straight-set victory.

This win avenges last year’s semifinal loss to Melichar-Martinez and Perez at the WTA Finals.

Routliffe and Dabrowski will compete for their first-ever WTA Finals title on Saturday.